2022 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

“Oliver” was a star on the track, running in the 2021 Belmont Stakes and hitting the board in Grade 3 stakes races. His racing connections knew that he's a smart horse who enjoys having a job and staying busy, so they sent him to New Vocations to let him shine in a second career, as well!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - Oliver is led with a plain cotton rope. He can get a bit distracted or pushy sometimes, but he respects a correction from his handler well.
  
  
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - 3 - He learned quickly to stand on the crossties, but (like many smart and sporty youngsters!) he gets bored quickly and amuses himself by playing with the ties or pawing. He means no harm ... he's just ready to get to work! He helps the process along by standing well for tacking and not complaining about the girth!
  
  
• Horse Care - Level 2 - A pretty straightforward guy, Oliver eats well and doesn’t require any special supplements or additional feedings. He just wears steel shoes on his front hooves.
  
  
• Riding - Level 2 - 3 - Oliver stands quietly at the mounting block and is coming along quite well under saddle. He's learning his proper canter leads after slowly returning to work after some R&R. We've found that he enjoys when his rider keeps him thinking ... lots of transitions and pole work are some of his favorite activities! He can be a bit spooky at new or "scary" things, but he'll approach to investigate after a pat and some encouragement and he's typically fine from there!
  
  
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - Oliver is well behaved and very smart, and he has a very extroverted, social personality. He's a blast to work with and enjoys a partner who can keep him thinking. He gets along well with other horses but is usually the more dominant one in the field. 
  
  
• Physical Capability - Level 4 - A clever and athletic horse, we think Oliver could find success in many arenas! We rehabbed a tendon injury slowly and carefully, and our veterinarian is very pleased with the progress he’s made since joining us at New Vocations! Everyone involved believes he will enjoy a long, full career as a sport horse!

 click for horse level information 

ABOUT OUR ADOPTION FEES

New Vocations intentionally sets our horses’ adoption fees lower than the average cost of buying a Thoroughbreds or Standardbreds from a private seller (in today’s market, horses coming right off the track are often listed at $5,000 to $10,000!).

Our facilities are nearly always at max capacity, which means we can’t take in a new horse until one is adopted. Keeping our adoption fees low helps us find appropriate homes for horses quickly, thereby enabling us to assist even more horses transition off the track as stalls open up in our barns! In that way, when you adopt a horse through New Vocations, you’re actually helping two horses: your new family member and the one who takes his place in our program!

While our adoption fees are low, it’s important to remember that costs associated with the ongoing care and additional training for a horse (adopted or otherwise!) can be high. We hope that by helping adopters save money upfront, you’ll have more funds available to cover the costs of properly caring for and training a retired racehorse.

In general, our fees are set at $3,500, $2,500, $1,000, and Under $1,000:

• $3,500: This range is for horses considered unlimited in their physical ability or those with exceptional qualities that would make them an upper- or high-level equine athlete.
  
  
• $2,500: This range is for horses we consider physically capable of a mid- to high-level second career. They have few or relatively minor limitations.
  
  
• $1,000: This range is for horses best-suited for a low- to mid-level career. They may have sustained an injury but have been fully treated and rehabbed. These horses have been examined by and cleared by our veterinarians for most disciplines, possibly up to a certain level (for example, suitable for a career jumping 2’0” but not suitable for a 3’6” career).
  
  
• Under $1,000: This range is for horses that could be harder to place in a perfect situation or those with more limited athletic potential (for example, possibly suitable for flat-work only) but are still capable of a successful second career. They have been evaluated by our veterinarians and are otherwise healthy.

Another perk of adopting from us? We do all we can to give you the most value for your adoption fee. Most adoptable horses have been in the program for a minimum of 60 days, during which they're rehabilitated (if needed), socialized with other horses, evaluated by trainers and veterinarians, and in regular training with a professional; on average, the monetary value of these services exceeds $5,000. Any medical records (often including X-ray and ultrasounds) and pertinent history we have on each horse is also available to interested and approved adopters.